COVID ‘breakthrough’ cases claim more than two dozen lives in Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – COVID-19 positivity rates are in double digits.

Some parishes and the state are documenting more cases of Delta coronavirus variants among those who have been vaccinated, but these cases are tiny compared to the new cases of variants among the unvaccinated.

State health officials say 59% of all new COVID-19 cases in Louisiana are the Delta variant, and they say it’s a cause for concern.

“If you were to be exposed to COVID tomorrow, there’s a good chance it’s the Delta variant. It’s more communicable, it’s more dangerous, it makes people sicker, and it also seems to infect children better, ”said state health director Dr Joseph Kanter.

But some vaccinated people contracted the Delta variant, notably Ralph Badeaux’s vaccinated daughter; this is a so-called “breakthrough” case.

“She called me that night and said, ‘I have bad news’, and I’m waiting to hear about a parent’s passing, but she says, ‘I have COVID'” , said Badeaux.

He says his 44-year-old daughter was bedridden for three days, but some groundbreaking cases in Louisiana have been fatal.

“There have been around 27 deaths attributed to breakthrough cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated people, but this compares to more than 3,800 deaths among unvaccinated people since the vaccines became available,” the report said. Dr Kanter.

The state health director said most of the severe breakthrough cases have been among people in their 60s, but it is not an exclusive club.

“For the most part, these breakthrough cases have mild or asymptomatic symptoms, but they do happen and people need to be aware of it,” the doctor said.

In fact, even though his daughter and others received the Delta variant after being vaccinated, Badeaux says he’s glad she got the shot.

“She’s great, but I think she’s ready to go back to work, but she’s in quarantine,” Badeaux said.

Positivity rates are on the rise and are now approaching 13% in St. Charles Parish.

“We are concerned about the breakthrough cases, but we are much more concerned about the overwhelming number of hospitalizations and deaths among unvaccinated people,” said Benjamin Springate, MD, MPH with LSU Health Sciences.

Health officials say it’s a good idea to get the vaccine, start wearing masks again, and distance yourself socially if you’re going to be around people who might not be vaccinated.

“The message is that if you are not yet fully immunized and you are surrounded by other people inside, you really need to mask yourself and walk away,” Dr Kanter said.

Dr Kanter says 95% of all new coronavirus cases continue to afflict those who have not been vaccinated. And he says that even in the case of a breakthrough, the symptoms are less severe for those who have been vaccinated.

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